Insect
Tawny Coster
Acraea terpsicoreTawny Costers are slow, deliberate fliers whose bright orange wings and pungent chemical defenses signal unpalatability to birds and reptiles. Their resilient, leathery wings can even withstand exploratory pecks from naive predators, allowing attacked individuals to escape largely unharmed. Native to South and Southeast Asia, this adaptable butterfly has mounted a rapid natural range expansion, establishing thriving breeding colonies across northern Australia.
AposematicSun-LovingPollinator
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyFlower nectar
Predators
- Mantises
- Orb-weaver spiders
- Robber flies
ThreatsPesticide application and heavy agricultural intensification
HabitatsGrasslands, scrublands, agricultural borders, and urban gardens
Life span6–8 weeks (egg to adult life cycle)
Classification
- OrderLepidoptera
- FamilyNymphalidae
- GenusAcraea
- SpeciesAcraea terpsicore
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Observation: Watch for their low, floating flight around sunny weed patches and floral borders.
- Photography: Approach slowly early in the morning when individuals bask with open wings.
Host Plant John Rosford / CC BY 4.0 · cc-by
Frequent Companion (c) i_c_riddell, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by i_c_riddell · cc-by
Close Relative D momaya (talk) / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
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Mystic Meadows
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